The Rugby Championship kicks off for 2017 this weekend, starting with old foes New Zealand and Australia facing off in a match that doubles as the first of the three-match Bledisloe Cup series. So where will the two matches be played, what time do they kick off, and who will feature?

Fowler, Walker on a World Cup mission

Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker have been sent to Australia on a mission by Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III - to start a World Cup of Golf dynasty like he and Fred Couples achieved in the 1990s.

The scene is set for a blockbuster start to the two-man team event at Melbourne's famed Kingston Heath, with Team USA teeing it up alongside Australians Adam Scott and Marc Leishman for the opening round foursomes.

Fowler and Walker - both members of America's victorious 2016 Ryder Cup campaign in October - said they had received a text message from Love urging the pair to repeat his and Couples' feat of four consecutive World Cup victories from 1992 to 1995.

"Davis (Love III) sent us both a text the other day, 'Go do what Freddie did and I did back in the day - bring it home.' So that kind of resonated with me," said Walker. "That was cool; the captain wishing you luck."

Added Fowler: "That's (winning) what we came down here to do. We're going to give it our all."

Close friends Fowler and Walker believe their strong bond has Team USA poised to beat a star-studded field featuring world No.6 Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) No.7 Scott and Sweden's No.9 Alex Noren.

"Rickie and I both enjoy each other's company," said Walker. "We've got a lot of things in common and I think that'll translate on the golf course."

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Despite an age difference of 10 years, Fowler (27) and Walker (37) feel their similar playing styles will be an advantage during the Thursday and Saturday alternate shot format.

"I feel like our games are fairly similar or similar enough that it doesn't feel like we're playing alternate shot," said Fowler. "(We have) similar distances. It's easy to club off each other and we see kind of the same shots.

After helping Team USA to their first Ryder Cup triumph in eight years at Hazeltine National, the duo claimed adding a World Cup trophy would ice a phenomenal year for American golf. Team USA are chasing a record 25th World Cup title.

"I think we've got our eyes on the trophy," said Walker. "It would be fun to hoist it at the end of the week. I think we're both in a good spot. We both have a lot of drive; want to win and beat the other guys."

Added Fowler: "I've played well down here. Jimmy's played well down here and this style of golf definitely fits our games."

Fowler and Walker have nine US PGA Tour victories between them - including Walker's 2016 US PGA Championship and Fowler's 2015 The Players Championship.